Dalmatian

Temperament:

Friendly, Courageous, Lively
Size: Large
Height: 54-62 cm
Weight: 20-30 kg
Lifespan: 11 - 13 years
Coat: Shorthair
Colors: Pure white with black or liver brown spots
FCI Group: Scent hounds and related breeds

The Dalmatian is a Croatian breed. Dalmatians are running and welding dogs and have a very friendly nature. They are particularly popular as family dogs because of their lively nature. They have also become famous in film and television.

Dalmatian
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Characteristics

The Dalmatian reaches a shoulder height of 54 to 62 cm and a weight of 20 to 30 kg. Females are usually slightly smaller than males. The life expectancy of the Dalmatian is between 11 and 13 years.

The proportions are good. The Dalmatian is best known for its spotted coat. The basic color is white with black patches or white with brown patches. He owes this special coat coloration to his special piebald gene.

He is strong and slender at the same time. Its head is narrow and elegant. The drooping ears lie close to the head. The eye color is dark brown. With brown fur, the eyes are amber-colored. It has a long tail.

The coat is short, smooth and shiny. The spots are sharply defined. A special feature is that the puppies are born with white fur. The spots only appear after 10-14 days. If the spots are already visible at birth, the animals are excluded from breeding. Dogs with blue eyes must also not be passed on. They tend to be deaf.

The problem of deafness occurs in about 4% of newborn Dalmatians. For this reason, the breeder always carries out a so-called audiometric examination. Other possible diseases of the Dalmatian are urinary gravel and allergies.

Dalmatians are very adaptable and sensitive. They need a lot of affection and love to cuddle. For this reason, they should be trained with love. Dalmatians need plenty of exercise. If they don't get this, they can develop behavioral problems. They need at least two hours of exercise every day.

He should also be kept busy with games, fetching and other activities.

The Dalmatian is also well suited as a guard dog. It is persistent and very attentive. He is also easy to excite and very willing to learn. Sometimes he tends to be stubborn.

The Dalmatian also has a certain hunting instinct. However, the dog should not be used as a hunting dog.

The Dalmatian is an ideal family dog. It is very adaptable and needs lively company. It bonds closely with its family members and is very fond of children. It reliably shows visitors. However, he is not aggressive or aggressive.

Coat care:

Little
Medium
Intensive

Shedding:

Little
Medium
Intensive

Energy level:

Little
Medium
High

Trainability:

Little
Medium
Good

Children suitable:

Less
With supervision
Perfect

The right food

When feeding the Dalmatian, the special metabolism of the dog must be taken into account. The purine breakdown in the Dalmatian's body is subject to a special feature. Instead of allantoin, uric acid is excreted. This can lead to the formation of urinary stones due to a genetic defect. A low purine diet can be fed as a preventative measure. Ask your vet or specialist retailer for advice.

Health & Care

The Dalmatian has a short, shiny coat. It should be brushed well about twice a week. It is best to use a soft brush for this. Alternatively, you can also use a glove with rubber nubs. This stimulates the blood circulation. Brushing removes dead hair and dirt.

You should also check his eyes and ears regularly. The eyes are best cleaned in the morning with a damp cloth. To clean his ears, also use a cloth and always wipe outwards through the pinna.

Your dog's teeth also need to be cleaned regularly. You can either use a dog toothbrush with the appropriate dog toothpaste. Chewing bones are also suitable for cleaning the teeth and preventing tartar.

The paws should be cleaned to remove foreign bodies and checked for cracks. To keep the pads supple, they should be greased, especially in the cold season. Claws should also be trimmed if necessary. This is especially true if the dog does not walk much on firm ground. Claws that are too long can be painful and lead to postural problems.

From time to time it is advisable to bathe the Dalmatian with a mild dog shampoo. This is especially important if the dog has rolled in excrement or other things that cannot be easily removed by brushing. Otherwise, the dog's sense of smell will decide when it needs a bath. However, it should not be too frequent, as otherwise the skin's protective acid mantle will suffer.

Suitable accessories

There are many different accessories for a dog. First and foremost should be a collar or harness and a lead. A flea collar can also be useful to protect the animal from annoying fleas.

The dog also needs its own feeding place. A food bowl and a drinking bowl are set up for this purpose. Both should be as non-slip as possible and made of stainless steel or ceramic, not plastic.

So that the Dalmatian has a place to retreat and sleep, it needs its own basket. It is best to put a soft blanket inside so that he can build his own "nest".

You should get various toys to keep him busy. Balls or ropes work well. Squeaky toys or frisbees are also fun.

You should get a brush, dog shampoo, a toothbrush and dog toothpaste to groom your dog. Claw nippers, tweezers and a flea comb are also essential. The tweezers are particularly important so that you can react immediately in the event of a tick infestation.

Also get some dog treats. You can spoil your dog with these and reward him when he has been good or done something particularly well. This helps with training.

Dalmatian history

Origin & History

The name probably originates from the coastal region of Dalmatia in Croatia. However, it has also been sighted among the pharaohs. From India, it reached England and France via Egypt and Greece.

The tomb slab of Pharaoh Antef from the 11th dynasty already shows the image of a spotted dog that looks very similar to the Dalmatian. However, this dates back to around 2,000 BC. There are repeated references to the existence of the Dalmatian in many other regions. For example in Kosovo, on the island of Losinj or in Italy.

There, the zoologist Ulisse Aldrovandi describes the breed "Canis Sagax Vulco Brachus". He mentions its origin in Dalmatia. Throughout history, the Dalmatian is repeatedly referred to as the Bracke.

The so-called "CoachDog", which is actually a Dalmatian, was described in 1792. This was also the case in Vienna towards the end of the 19th century. Here, too, there is talk of a Bengali Bracke or a Dalmatian chicken dog.

In Victorian times, he was mainly known as a carriage dog. In the 19th century, he accompanied fire engines as a living siren. He became the mascot of the New York Fire Department. He also protected people and animals from predators and wild animals.

The Greyhound, the Great Dane, the Bengal Bracke and the English Pointer are considered to be the main ancestors. They were mainly bred in France and England, especially for the nobility.

Breed standards were first established by Vero Shaw in 1882. The breed standard was officially declared in 1890. At this time, the Dalmatian also became increasingly well-known in Germany.

In 1920, the "German Dalmatian Club" was founded near Karlsruhe. The "British Dalmatian Club" was founded in England. Statesmen such as George Washington also kept a Dalmatian. The Dalmatian Club of America was founded in 1905.

With the release of the Disney film "101 Dalmatians", the breed finally made its big breakthrough. The demand for Dalmatians increased immeasurably.